|
a.
|
Note: Sources-
1. Marriage Certificate- Forrest Culler and Erma Shidler
Stark County Probate Court, vol 31, Pg 471
Marriage Application #24794
(Photocopy in Evidence File of Tim Culler)
2. Interview of Erma Shidler Culler in 1986 at age 91
3. Social Security Death Index, Culler, Forrest 301-30-3525
4. Newspaper article done on Forrest in July 1967.
Culler Has Been Welder 47 Years
ALLIANCE MAN STILL HAMMERS ANVIL,
KEEPS SMITHY TRADITION ALIVE
Forrest Culler, for whom the words, " Under the Spreading chestnut
tree, the village smithy stands," could have been written by Longfellow,
is one of the last of a vanishing race - the " blacksmith,"
Although Culler has his own business, Culler Welding, at 121 East
Oxford Street, and uses many of the modern techniques in welding, he
still uses one of the articles that many people associate, the anvil.
Culler, who was the first full time welder in Alliance, started in
the business 47 ago.
He learned welding at Transue and Williams Steel Forging Corp. and
from his experience, he set up his own business in the M. E. Biery
Building on Prospect Street, where he welded for 23 years. He has been
at his present location for 16 years.
Culler doe s acetylene welding including die casting.
" I'll repair anything that's broken, " Culler claims. This
includes machinery and tools.
Often a visitor to C uller's plant will see him bent over his latest
project, with the sparks flyi ng from his torch. A step away is the
anvil, which Culler uses to " pound out the equipment I fix."
Born north of Louisville, Ohio, and raised near Freeburg, Ohio,
Culler has a knack and an interest in farm machinery. To better serve
the area farmers, he has a portable outfit in addition to his permanent
operation on Oxford Street.
" In the summer, I use the portable unit to repair the farm
machinery when it breaks down in the fields. It is necessary for the
farmers to have their machines fixed as quickly as possible, and the
portable outfit helps me to do that.
Although Culler is 70, he has no thoughts of retiring. " I don't
want to retire as long as I feel good," he maintains. From the looks of
the " smithy, a mighty man is he, with large and sinewy hands," retirement
is a long time away.
Sady, 6 months after the above story was written, Forrest passed away.
5. Obituary of Forrest Culler
Forrest C. Culler, 71, of 207 Linwood Drive, Alliance, the first
full-time welder in Alliance, died Tuesda y, January 30, 1968, at 6:30
P.M. in Alliance City Hospital after a sudden il lness.
Mr. Culler was owner of Culler Welding at 121 East Oxford Street,
All iance. He started in business 47 years ago and learned welding at
Transue and Williams Steel Forging.
From his experience he set up his own business at th e M.E. Biery
Building on Prospect Street where he welded for 23 years. He ha s been
located at East Oxford Street for 16 years.
The son of the late Henry and Laura Ruff Culler, he was a life
resident of the area. He was born Nov. 18, 1896 near Louisville, Ohio.
He was a member of the Freeburg Church of th e Brethren and a life member
of the National Rifle Association.
Mr. Culler is survived by his wife, Erma Shidler Culler of the
home. They would have celebrated their 48th wedding anniversary Sunday.
He is also survived by two sons, Virgil Culler of La Crescenta,
California, and Kenneth Culler of Kailua, Hawaii; three brothers, Frank
Culler of Waynesburg, Ohio, Harmon Culler of Columbiana, Ohio and Ralph
Culler of Canton, Ohio; three sisters, Mrs Forest Phillips of Louisville,
Ohio, Mrs Charles Franks of Alliance, Ohio, Mrs. Elmer Bruner of
Freeburg, Ohio and three grandchildren.
Funeral services were held Saturday, February 3, at the Freeburg
Church with Rev. Richard Kidwell offic iating. Burial was in the Freeburg
Cemetery.
|
